Structural foundation monitoring sensor system

Abstract

Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for detecting a change in an orientation of a portion of a structure. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor, an energy storage unit, a location reporting unit, a wireless communication module and one or more inclination sensors. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inclination sensors is configured to measure inclination by measuring an orientation of the each of the one or more inclination sensors relative to a gravitational acceleration vector.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 one or more sensors attached to a portion of a building attached to a foundation that extends into soil at a foundation site, the sensors configured to:
 measure sensor orientation relative to a gravitational vector; and 
 transmit inclination data to a control unit; 
   the control unit, configured to:
 receive, from individual ones of the one or more sensors, the inclination data indicating the measured sensor orientation; 
 determine, based at least in part upon the inclination data, one or more amounts of water to be added to the soil; and 
 transmit one or more signals to one or more controllers to control flow of water to the soil, in accordance with the determined one or more amounts, to alter inclination of the foundation. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the control unit comprises an irrigation control unit configured to use the inclination data to control the water flow. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a cloud server configured to:
 receive, over a network, data comprising the inclination data; 
 store and analyze data comprising the inclination data; and 
 transmit instructions, based on the analysis, to the irrigation control unit to control flow of water to the soil. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein to analyze the data comprising the inclination data, the cloud server is configured to use artificial intelligence to analyze the data comprising the inclination data. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a web portal device, comprising a control interface, configured to:
 provide user access to the inclination data; 
 facilitate set up of notifications associated with the irrigation control unit; 
 facilitate installation of the irrigation control unit; or 
 manage the irrigation control unit. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the controller comprises a water control valve; and   said transmit one or more signals to one or more controllers to control flow of water to the soil comprises transmit one or more signals over one or more wires to control flow of water at one or more water control valves.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 the one or more water control valves; and   one or more drip line pipes;   wherein said transmit one or more signals over one or more wires to control flow of water at one or more water control valves comprises control flow of water at the water control valves into the one or more drip line pipes to expand soil to lift at least a portion of the foundation.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the control unit is configured to generate, based on the determined one or more amounts of water to be added, one or more commands to transmit to the one or more controllers; and   transmit the one or more signals over one or more wires to one or more controllers comprises transmit the one or more commands over one or more networks to the one or more controllers to control flow of water to the soil, in accordance with the determined one or more amounts.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 one or more communication wires, connecting the one or more sensors to the control unit;   wherein the inclination data is received by the control unit over the one or more communication wires from the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more sensors are provided with a constant source of power. 
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 measuring, by one or more sensors attached to a portion of a building attached to a foundation that extends into soil at a foundation site, sensor orientation relative to a gravitational vector; and   transmitting, by the one or more sensors, inclination data based on the measuring to a control unit;   receiving, by a control unit from individual ones of the one or more sensors, the inclination data indicating the measured sensor orientation of the one or more sensors;   determining, based at least in part upon the inclination data, one or more amounts of water to be added to the soil; and   transmitting, by the control unit, one or more signals to one or more controllers to control flow of water to the soil, in accordance with the determined one or more amounts, to alter inclination of the foundation.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the control unit comprises an irrigation control unit configured to use the inclination data to control the water flow. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 receiving, by a cloud server over a network, data comprising the inclination data;   storing and analyzing, by the cloud server, data comprising the inclination data; and   transmitting, by the cloud server, instructions based on the analysis to the irrigation control unit to control flow of water to the soil.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said analyzing the data comprising the inclination data comprises analyzing the data comprising the inclination data using artificial intelligence. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 providing, by a web portal, an interface facilitating functionality selected from a set of functionality comprising one or more of:
 user access to the inclination data; 
 set up of notifications associated with the irrigation control unit; 
 installation of the irrigation control unit; and 
 management of the irrigation control unit. 
   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the controller comprises a water control valve; and   said transmitting one or more signals to one or more controllers to control flow of water to the soil comprises transmitting one or more signals over one or more wires to control flow of water at one or more water control valves.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said transmitting one or more signals over one or more wires to control flow of water at one or more water control valves comprises controlling flow of water at the water control valves into one or more drip line pipes to expand soil to lift at least a portion of the foundation. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 ,
 further comprising generating, by the control unit and based on the determined one or more amounts of water to be added, one or more commands to transmit to the one or more controllers;   wherein transmitting the one or more signals over one or more wires to one or more controllers comprises transmitting the one or more commands over one or more networks to the one or more controllers to control flow of water to the soil, in accordance with the determined one or more amounts.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 receiving the inclination data, by the control unit from the one or more sensors, over one or more communication wires, connecting the one or more sensors to the control unit. 
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 powering the one or more sensors with a constant source of power.